< Previous28 | with legislators at both the state and national levels. I testified numerous times as part of legislative hearings and annually attended advocacy training in Washington, D.C., while also meeting with members of Congress to fight for important causes. That background provides me with an understanding of what effective advocacy looks like and the effort it takes. Experience has taught me that in advocacy, much like college sports, you are going to have a record of both wins and losses. It doesn’t always matter if you’re on the right side of a cause. In simple terms, advocacy is about convincing others to join you in support of a cause or idea. The devil is in the details when it comes to aligning your ideas to the point they convince your target audience to jump on board. There’s old adage that I often use when discussing this topic: “If you are not at the table, you may be on the table.” For many years, CoSIDA was viewed as an organization with two primary missions: running a convention and coordinating the Academic All-America® program. Today’s CoSIDA is much more than a two-trick pony. In my years as an SID, it never crossed my mind that it was CoSIDA’s responsibility to determine the perception of my office or influence the resources I received. At the end of the day, our performance was the sole influencer of how we were valued. Unlike our positioning throughout much of our history, CoSIDA now has a seat at the college sports leadership table. As someone who has been active in this profession for nearly four decades, I’m in a position to evaluate the significant progress we’ve made in terms of how we are perceived. Our organization has a presence and is respected. We meet regularly with top leaders of the college sports industry and those who influence it all levels. But, as we all understand, there will always be those brick-wall attitudes among closed-minded administrators and coaches who have no appetite for any persuasive argument you can offer. Regardless, there are no lost causes in the realm of advocacy. All that being said, I don’t want to paint a false narrative. These are painful times and it’s difficult for any of us to feel optimistic about the immediate future. I can assure you that the welfare of our membership is the top priority for everyone associated with leadership in CoSIDA. We all accept that burden of leadership and understand rule one as quoted by the grasshopper. As mentioned earlier, in recent weeks I’ve had several discussions with members who are curious about the total advocacy picture for CoSIDA. That’s because we’ve not put it under the magnifying glass for display. Those discussions have convinced me of the need to bring our thought process on advocacy into a better light so everyone has a complete understanding of that mission. We plan to do that more often in the months ahead. At right is a partial list of resources and strategies that form our advocacy arsenal. What’s missing are the many relationships we’ve built and continue to foster with people of influence. Quite often the most effective path in raising support is simply raising friends. CoSIDA’s Road to Advocacy Where It Brings a Voice of Influence Advocacy Committee: policy guidance and strategy development with a think-tank of leaders representing all levels of members Compensation and Career Satisfaction Survey: data for members to use in improving salary and resource support CoSIDA Convention as part of NACDA Convention Week: provides endless opportunities to advocate on behalf of the membership CoSIDA Leadership Forum and June Stewart Leadership Series Diversity & Inclusion Committee: education and insight into racial and social justice concerns, gender equity, LGBTQA+ and ADA NCAA Inclusion Forum NCAA Convention: meetings with ADs and President Mark Emmert NAIA Convention: meetings with ADs and President Jim Carr Officers and staff summer meetings with NCAA Governance leaders at all levels NACDA Mid-Winter Meeting with athletic directors of influence The opportunity to have the attention of NCAA Division I athletic directors with attendance at the LEAD1 Convention Women Leaders in College Sports Convention: networking with key stakeholders and leaders Collegiate Athletic Leadership Symposium (CALS): more exposure with key leaders and those of influence Partnership with the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics Annual CoSIDA progress updates to NCAA leadership groups representing NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and Public & Media Relations NCAA Communications Summit: joining with conference communication office leaders Participation on Monthly NCAA Communication Office calls Attendance at national championship events (CFP National Championship; Men’s and Women’s Final Four) National Football Foundation events in New York City Participation in educational presentations at the NABC convention Partnerships with the FWAA, USBWA and the WBCA. Corporate partnerships with the NCAA, major bowls, television networks, College Football Playoff and national award organizations CoSIDA Advocacy Resources CoSIDA 360 Magazine (mailed to members, athletic directors and conference commissioners) Annual CoSIDA Convention Outreach on a nationwide basis to bring the spotlight on our members during CoSIDA Membership Recognition Week Academic All-America® Program & Academic All-America® Hall of Fame which represents CoSIDA’s signature program and helps define our commitment to support of student-athlete achievement Letters of appreciation acknowledging CoSIDA leadership service to athletics directors National Championship SID Award program CoSIDA Code of Ethics: establishing of standards of excellence CoSIDA has been a leader in prioritizing change through the establishment of a Diversity & Inclusion Value Statement Growth through opportunities for leadership by involvement with the Executive Board of Directors and by serving as divisional cabinet chairs or committee chairs AdvocacyCoSIDA 360 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 29 We’re getting through this, together. “CoSIDA” is not just the Executive Board of Directors. It’s not just the national office staff. CoSIDA is not just a convention, and it’s much more than an Academic All-America® team. “CoSIDA” is all of us who work in college athletics communications coming together to connect, educate, support, advocate and honor each other. Thank you to everyone who makes CoSIDA what is 365 days a year. Here are some of the things we’ve done together since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Connect CoSIDA Coffee Shop One of the organization’s first priorities when the pandemic hit was to come together to connect and support our colleagues on an emotional level. Forty virtual Coffee Shop hang outs were held with hundreds of participants prior to the convention. The personal interactions and informal conversations were so meaningful that it’s a program that will have some staying power. The Coffee Shop is not the only way members have stayed connected. Through August, three WoSIDA Wind/Wine Down Wednesday events were held in support of the women of CoSIDA. Other informal member-driven groups have held Zoom happy hours on a regular basis. The CoSIDA Fitness Challenge has created a social community that is changing lives for the better. Sign up for an upcoming Coffee Shop: #CoSIDA2020 Virtual Convention 55 total offerings, 49 hours of education, 150+ keynote speakers and panelists. With only weeks to prepare, a dedicated team of programming committee volunteers pulled off the #CoSIDA2020 Virtual Convention which was attended by over 1,700 individuals with a total attendance of 10,409 for the live sessions. Since then, on-demand views have reached over 2,300. Featured sessions received an average 8.4 (out of 10) satisfaction rating. And, it was all FREE. Watch on-demand at: Educate30 | Listening & Leading Webinars & Podcasts Professional development is at the heart of CoSIDA’s year-round programming. From the Teachable Tuesday monthly sessions to the June Stewart Leadership Series to the NAIA-SIDA Continuing Education sessions, there is programming available for all types of members. When COVID-19 hit, a new series was introduced — Listening & Leading — to hit on the most relevant topics. Look for the sessions continue in 2020-21. To watch archived webinars and podcasts, go Educate We’re getting through this, together. Support Mentorship & Well-Being We all need people we can count on and CoSIDA members are some of the most helpful in all of college athletics at supporting one another like a family. Sign up for the CoSIDA Mentorship Program as either a mentor or a mentee. You won’t regret it. Encouragement and support for mental health, fitness and nutrition, and community service have been a priority for CoSIDA for many years. We don’t talk about it as much, but through the CoSIDA Cares program, CoSIDA has donated thousands of dollars over the years to members in need due to illness or natural disasters. Executive Director Doug Vance routinely makes calls to members and athletic directors in support of individuals facing difficult situations. If you need someone to have your back, you’re always encouraged to contact Doug or any member of the staff or executive board. To learn more about the mentorship program, go Get involved with the Fitness Challenge: Contact CoSIDA leadership: Honor Special Awards & Academic All-America® CoSIDA honors hundreds of members through the On top of that, the CoSIDA Academic All-America® program honors nearly 4,000 student-athletes each year.CoSIDA 360 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 31 Keep CoSIDA Strong in 2020-21! Recognizing the realities of budgetary limitations schools and organizations are facing, the CoSIDA Executive Board of Directors approved the membership dues structure and pricing for 2020-21. All institutions should be able to pay the same — or less — than in 2019-20, depending on staff size. “Association membership is critical for professional growth and development now more than ever,” CoSIDA President Sam Atkinson said. “You will not find a better organization that will help you with advocacy and development more than CoSIDA at this time. It’s important to recognize the programming the organization planned and delivered during COVID-19. It was completely focused on helping members through a difficult time.” Memberships Available for 2020-21 • University & College membership: For multiple people employed by the same collegiate school $155 for the first membership at that school $100 each for every additional member from the same school • Individual membership: $155 each • Conference membership: $155 for the first membership at that conference office $100 each for every additional member from the same conference office • Associate membership: For everyone not employed by a collegiate school or conference $100 each Note: This membership level DOES NOT include Academic All-America® nominating/voting rights. • Undergraduate student membership: For any undergraduate students $25 each In order to participate on CoSIDA’s committees and in its leadership structure, as well as the Academic All-America® and mentorship programs, you must be a current dues-paying member. Get more details Advocate “CoSIDA Should Do Something...” Remember, YOU are CoSIDA. If we’re going to make a difference, we need all of us. If professional development is the heart of CoSIDA, then advocacy is the soul. Every day, someone from CoSIDA is advocating for you, whether you know it or not. CoSIDA is, and has been, a leader on the diversity, equity and inclusion front in college athletics, and through our latest program — the Racial & Social Justice Initiative — we aim to make a greater impact in our efforts to promote opportunity and equality. The 2020 CoSIDA Compensation & Career Satisfaction survey came at a difficult time but the data remain relevant and important as we advocate for the importance of the communications professional. These programs are only our most recent. We urge you to help us with these and all of our efforts to advocate for members of all demographics and divisions. MEMBERSHIP32 | The SID Life If you could snap your fingers and become an expert in something, what would it be? Plus pandemic advice, childhood dreams, and songs that make us happy. “The SID Life” is a series surveying CoSIDA members for their thoughts on topics and issues in the athletic communications industry, plus personal insights into not-so-serious issues, too. • Christy Lear – Saint Leo University, Manager of Athletic Communications • Steven Olveda – Chapman University, Sports Information Director • Bridgette Robles – University of Richmond, Assistant Director of Athletic Public Relations • Ron Smith – Westmont College, Sports Information Director LEAROLVEDAROBLESSMITH Advice for moving forward in the pandemic Learn the difference between resting and crashing, via The Sports Leadership Podcast (Episode 2) Stay safe and value yourself. I pray you all stay healthy and have found that your value runs so much deeper than stats and recaps. Continue to breathe and hold firm to the boundaries you have set up once things get going again. Make the best of it! Find ways to promote your athletes, coaches and school, Be creative. Your mission hasn’t changed, just the circumstances. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? A marine biologist, but then I took a biology class. I quickly switched gears and became a fan (only) of wildlife. Baseball player. When I realized my athletic ability wasn’t going to take me far, I began the journey to find a way to stay around sports. Here I am. A writer (of sports or fiction) with a lot of dogs. At 10 years old, I figured I wouldn’t be good enough to be the Chicago Cubs’ third baseman. I was fascinated with scorekeeping and decided I wanted to be a baseball official scorer. And now … If you could snap your fingers and become an expert on something... An electrician. I’m two years into owning a home - enough said. Teaching kindergarten. Looks like my wife and I will become kindergarten teachers this year so the finger snapping method would be quite helpful. Sabermetrics Other than finding a vaccine for COVID-19, I’d like to be a historian. My guilty pleasure: Chocolate, even if it’s a couple chocolate chips to cap off a really good dinner. Sweets, Netflix, Taylor Swift songs Eating high-end ice cream sandwiches Ice cream, no doubt — it’s low carb ice cream these days! Something you’ve learned about yourself during COVID-19: I like to plan ahead. I’m learning how to be patient but also ready to react and change course quickly. How important it is to be organized. I’ve got an office desk system, but had to catch up on being as organized at home. Patience with myself, especially when learning new programs or languages. I miss people — student-athletes, coaches, co-workers. What song makes you unconditionally happy? “Drift” by Benji Lewis Blake Shelton - “God Gave Me You” (first dance with my wife) Randy Newman - “I Love LA” (Dodger wins!) I really love ABBA and sing along to their songs; I’m tuned into a 70s disco/R&B/hits station on Pandora. “What a Wonderful World” sung by Louis Armstrong College Sports Information Directors of America UNA Box 5038 Florence, AL 35632-0001Next >